Saddletree.



No. 793,511. PATEN'TED JUNE 27, 1905. J. E. L. CRAWFORD.

SADDLETREE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 7, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ill/115201115 No. 793,511. PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905.

J. E. L. GRAWFORDL SADDLETREE.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.7, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 NITED STATES Patented June 27, 1905.

JOHN E. L. GRAVVFORD, OF LISBON, OHIO.

SADDLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,511, dated June 27, 1905.

Application filed December '7, 1904, Serial No. 235,854.

To all whom, it nu/ eon/007 71 Be it known that 1, JOHN E. L. CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lisbon, in the county of Oolumbiana and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Saddletrees, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to saddletrees.

The invention aims to provide a saddletree which will admit of connecting thereto a running or continuous back-band and at the same time permit of the removal of said band without disconnecting the parts constituting the saddletree.

The invention further aims to provide a saddletree which is flexible, so that it will conform to the shape of the horses back when the running or continuous back-band is secured in position. The construction of the saddletree, furthermore, is such that its flexibility will cause the tree to conform itself to the shape of the horses back when occasion requires.

The invention further aims to so construct a saddletree to enable the terret-shanks to move when bending the tree to conform to the shape of the horses back, so as not to cause any binding between the parts which constitute the saddletree, which would be the case if the terret-shanks were fixed and did not permit of movement in the manner as hereinafter set forth.

The invention further aims to provide the saddletree with what is termed a central yoke which is adapted to position the backhand, said yoke being exposed, if desired. When exposed, the yoke is provided with bridge-pieces for retaining the band in position, and when the yoke is not exposed the bridge-pieces are dispensed with, a covering for the yoke then performing the function of the bridge-pieces, said covering being what is termed the jock in saddletree construction.

The invention further aims to construct a flexible saddletree to be used either with or without a seat and to provide the saddletree with a skirt-yoke having means for attaching a checkrein-hook thereto, as well as a crupper.

The invention further aims to construct a saddletree which shall be flexible, so as to readily conform to the shape of the horses back, strong, durable, permitting the conmeeting and disconnecting of the back-band to and from the tree without separating the parts thereof, efficient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention; but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a central section of a saddletree constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 3 isa transverse section on the line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a detail showing one form of a central yoke. Fig. 5 is a detail showing one form of the tree-springs. Fig. 6 shows a modified form of yoke. Fig. 7 shows a modified form of saddletree-spring, and Fig. 8 is a view of a modified form of reinforcing member.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, 1 denotes the saddle-skirts, each of which is provided with a pair of elongated openings 2,

substantially rectangular in contour, and interposed between the said openings 2 is an opening 3 for the shank 4 of the terret 5. The saddle-skirts 1 are connected together through the medium of a central yoke 6, which is mounted upon and secured to the upper ends thereof ina manner hereinafter referred to. The yoke6 is curvilinear in contour and is provided on its upper face with a pair of longitudinal flanges 7, extending from end to end of the yoke and terminating at each end in a bridge-piece 8, forming retaining members and openings for the back-band 9. The yoke 6 is formed with a forwardly-extending protuberance 10, having an opening to receive the checkrein-hook l1, and is furthermore provided with a rearwardly-extending loop 12 for the purpose of connecting the crupper to the saddletree. Secured to the upper face of the saddle-skirts 1 is a jock 13, which is.

formed with openings 14, registering with the openings 3'in the saddle-skirts. The jock 18 incloses the yoke 6; but when the yoke is provided with the bridge-pieces 8 the jock 13 is dispensed with. The jock 13 performs the function of the bridge-pieces 8. The longitudinally-extending flanges 7 of the yoke are adapted to retain and position the back-band 9 thereon. The reference character 15 denotes the saddletree-springs, each of which is formed from an elongated flat strip of spring metal and provided with a pair of openings 16 by swaging, so as to form a pair of upwardly and a pair of downwardly extending inclined and slightly-curvilinear projections 16 16" and 16 16, respectively, there being an upwardly and a downwardly extending projection for each of the openings 16. The projections 16 16" extend in an opposite direction with respect to each other, and the projections 16 16 extend in the same manner. When the saddletree is set up. the projections 16 16" are adapted to extend into the openings 2 of the saddle-skirt 1. Each of the springs 15 is provided with a row of openings 16 to admit of their use for various styles of pads necessary for different kinds of harness. Preferably the springs 15 have rounded ends, as shown. Between the openings 16 of each of the springs 15 is formed, by swaging or otherwise, aslot 17 and a marginal bead 17 These beads 17 when the saddletree is set up project into the recesses 17 formed in the under face of the saddle-skirts 1 The slots 17 allow the necessary play for the lower end of the shanks of the terrets when the saddle-tree is bent to conform to the shape of the horses back, and in this connection it will be stated that the shanks of the terrets extend through the jocks and skirts and carry on their lower ends washers 18. The shanks of the terrets are slidably connected to the springs 15 through the medium of the screw-threaded cleats 19. The cleats 19 extend through the slots 17, as well as parallel with the lower face of the springs'15, and abut against the washers 18. By such a construction the terrets are retained in position and will not cause any binding action when the saddletree is bent, which would be the case if the springs 15 were employed in connection with the saddletree with the shanks of the terrets fixed to the springs. The upper ends of the skirts 1 and springs 15 are secured to the ends of the yoke 6 through the medium of the hold: fast devices 20for example, rivets or other suitable means. The back-band 9 when in position extends through the lower openings 2 and 16 of the skirts 1 and springs 15, respectively, then through the upper openings 2 and 16 of the skirts 1 and springs 15, respectively, and then over the center yoke 6. This manner of passing the back-band 9 and connecting it to the saddletree can be accomplished without disconnecting any of the parts which constitute a saddletree constructed in accordance with this invention and at the same time will not interfere in any manner with the flexibility of the saddletree. The setting up of the terrets in the manner set forth will enable the replacing of a terret when broken without separating the jock, skirts, springs, or yokes, as well as without disconnecting the back-band 9.

A spring reinforcing member having bifurcated ends is employed in connection with the saddletree and which is indicated by the reference character 21. Said member is detachably connected to the yoke 6 and bears against a pair of depending lugs 22, formed integral with the yoke 6, and has its free ends bearing against the springs 15, and said member 21 aids in supporting the saddletree. In Fig. 1 this reinforcing member is shown as constructed of a flat piece of metal; but.it can be constructed of a pair of wires bent together in the manner as shown in Fig. 8 and indicated by the reference character 21. In Fig. 6 of the drawings a modified form of yoke is shown and which is indicated by thereference character 23. In this construction the bridge-pieces 8 are dispensed with. Otherwise the yoke is substantially the same as that hereinbefore referred to, the same ref-- ferenee characters being applied thereto.

In lieu of employing the flat springs '15 the form shown in Fig. 7 can be employed and which is constructed of a single piece of wire twisted so as to form a pair of end loops 24 and a central loop 25, a pair of spring-arms 26 and apair of eyes 27, the latter adapted to have holdfast devices extend therethrough, so as to connect the modified form of spring to a skirt. The end loops 24 are for the same purpose as the openings 16 in the springs 15, and the center loop 25 is for the same purpose as the slot 17, or, in other words, the backband passes through the end loops 24 and the cleat extends through the center loop 25. The spring-arms 26 are adapted to bear against the lower face of the skirts 1.

The saddletree-springs serve to support the saddle-skirts, at the same time allowing fora certain amount of elasticity, or, in other words, the springs act as a stiffening means for the saddletree.

The lower face of the yoke (shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings) is provided with means, as at 23', for holding certain kinds of hooks in position-for example, the old style checkrein-hook-and in this connection it will be stated that the hook will pass through the forwardly-extending protuberance 10 and the lower portion of the hook will be seated between the raised portions indicated by the reference character 23, said raised portions 23 being the means indicated by the reference character 23' heretofore mentioned.

The invention is adapted for use in connec tion with a padplate*that is to say, a pad or the part of the harness which is used in denble harness and is generally spoken of as a pad, and the tree employed is generally termed the pad-plate.

In the construction of certain kinds of harness the yoke may be omitted and the large springs connected together by other suitable means or made into one piece, so that they will pass over the horses back as one continuous piece of material.

It will be evident that to adapt the invention for use in connection with various kinds and styles of goods in the harness line variations and modifications will have to be resorted to; but such variations and modilications i will come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A saddletree embodying a pair of skirts provided with openings to permit of the passage of the back-band, a yoke secured to the upper ends of said skirts and provided with flanges for retaining the back-band in position centrally of the saddletree, and a pair of springs secured to the lower face of the saddle-skirts and provided with openings corre spending with the openings in said skirts.

2. A saddletree embodying a pair of skirts provided with openings to permit of the passage of the bacleband, a yoke secured to the upper ends of said skirts and provided with flanges and bridges for retaining the backband in position centrally of the saddletree, and a pair of springs secured to the lower face of the saddle-skirts and provided with openings corresponding with the openings in said skirts.

3. A flexible saddletree embodying a pair of flexible saddle-skirts, means for connecting the skirts together, terrets extending through the skirts, a pair of springs having one end free and the other end secured to the skirts and provided with slots, and movable cleats extending through said slots and engaging the terrets for retaining the same in position.

4. A saddletree embodying a pair of skirts provided with openings, means for connecting the skirts together, said openings in said skirts adapted to permit of the passage of the back-- band, and a pair of springs having one end free and the other end connected to the skirts, said springs provided with openings corresponding to the openings in the skirts.

5. A saddletree embodying a pair of saddleskirts, a yoke for connecting the upper ends of said skirts together and provided with depending lugs, said skirts having openings to permit of the passage of the back-band, a pair of springs connected at their outer ends to the skirts and having their lower ends free and further provided with openings corresponding to the openings in the skirts, and a spring reinforcing member bearing against said lugs, detachably connected with the yoke and having its free ends engaging with the saddle for reinforcing it.

6. A saddletree embodying a pair of saddleskirts, a yoke for connecting the upper ends of said skirts together and provided with depending lugs and further provided with flanges and bridge-pieces for retaining the back-band in position upon the saddle, said skirts having openings to permit of the passage of the backband, a pair of springs connected at their upper ends to the skirts and having their lower ends free and further provided with openings corresponding to the openings in the skirts, and a spring reinforcing member bearing against said lugs, detachably connected with the yoke and having its free ends engaging with the saddle for reinforcing it.

7. A saddletree embodying a pair of elements having openings to permit of the passage of the back-band, a pair of elements ar ranged below the other of said elements and having openings corresponding to the openingsin the first-mentioned pair of elements, means for connecting the upper ends of one pair of elements to the upper ends of the other pair of elements, means for connecting the first pair of elements together, said second pair of elements provided with slots, cleats extending through said slots and having a part thereof extending parallel with the lower face of said second pair of elements, and terrets extending through the first pair of elements and engaging with the said cleats.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN E. L. CRAWFORD. Witnesses:

H. JOHN E. BEARDSLEY, Wu. H. SrENoE. 

